Black-out, lights out 10pm, instead of 11 pm
Spent night in Stanley Gaol cell. No. 56 top floor Hall F
Details of R.C. parcels posted.
Diary pages from this date
Amazing edict today - all men of military age whose wives aren't in camp (Police under 40, civilians under 35) have to go and sleep in the Gaol for about 3 weeks. Supposed to be because there might be escapes attempted in the blackout, then the Japs would have to punish all of us. Even the young doctors had to go - Dr Loan, Dr Y-E and Dr Alan Barwell, athough C.S.O. staff have been exempted.
Had upper left 8 tooth filled temporarily today. If it doesn't ache after 3 days then dentist will fill it properly.
Finished typing story.
Mum's block had herring today - lovely big ration, and seconds of them too. We ((at hospital)) had ours in chow fan.
All the internees are assembled and Yamashita reads out a list consisting of most of the men aged between 18 and 35: they are to sleep from now on in Stanley Prison as the Japanese believe there is a plan for a mass escape linked to the recently begun (October 25) American air raids. The system lasts about three weeks.
Source:
George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 115-116
R. C. parcels taken over by us.
Police under 40 & civvies under 35 to F. Hall in Gaol from 7P.M. to 7A.M.
This is the day when things were supposed to happen but nothing did.
((G.))